KARACHI, Dec 29: The Sindh government has imposed a ban on manufacture and sale of Gutka and Mainpuri across the province under Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Criminal Procedure Code with immediate effect.

Gutka and Mainpuri contain betel nuts, tobacco and lime as their main ingredients.

Physicians have been warning against the hazardous and fatal effects of Gutka and Mainpuri which are manufactured locally, imported or smuggled in the country and used by adults and children alike.

A Sindh home department notification said that under Section 144 of the CrPC an immediate ban had been imposed on preparation, manufacture and sale of Gutka and Mainpuri throughout the province of Sindh until further orders.

The police officers up to the rank of assistant sub-inspector of police stations concerned have been authorised to register complaints under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code in writing for the violation of the ban against the violators, says an official statement issued here on Thursday.

Betel nuts (areca catechu) have been popular in the countries of the region including Pakistan for long and people supposedly chew it for stress reduction, feeling of well-being, and heightened awareness. However, according to doctors, the nut contains major alkaloids like arecoline, pilocarpine, and muscarine and its chewing is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Gutka is a combination of lime, tobacco, betel nuts, flavourings and catechu.

Dr Qaiser Sajjad, an ENT surgeon and senior office-bearer of the Pakistan Medical Association, was of the view that betel nuts, Gutka and Mainpuri caused cancer and the worst victims of such diseases were men.

He said that betel nuts mostly used for preparation of these items were not of good quality and often found with fungal infections.

The ingredients, including colourants and other impurities, acted as carcinogens and it had been proved and documented as well that the fungus could cause a liver cancer also, the doctor said.

Apart from the carcinoma of the oral cavity, the betel nuts, Gutka and Mainpuri caused submucous fibrosis in teenagers who frequently chewed them, he said.

(Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic disease characterised by the build-up of constricting bands of collagen in the cheeks and adjacent structures of the mouth.)

The most serious side effect associated with prolonged use of Gutka was the risk of cancer of gums, mouth, throat, lungs, liver, stomach, prostate and oesophagus, Dr Sajjad said and urged the Sindh government to ensure an effective implementation of the ban.